Solar heating system

Abstract

A system utilizing solar energy collectors for heating water, which system embodies a piping circuit whereby water from a storage or supply tank is pumped in a continual upward path through the collectors to a peak elevation and thence through sized return piping so as to return with any entrapped air to the storage area, with the return piping being vented adjacent to the storage area to allow escape of such entrapped air to the storage area, with the return piping being vented adjacent to the storage area to allow escape of such entrapped air while the water is circulating through the system and to allow influx of air to replace water in the collectors when the pump is not operating.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A solar energy system for heating a liquid comprising a reservoir for containing a supply of the liquid to be heated, at least one solar collector at a level higher than the reservoir, liquid conduit means in said collector including an inlet at a low point in the collector and an outlet at a high point in the collector, and piping connecting said inlet to said outlet, said piping throughout its length being pitched upwardly from the inlet to the outlet, a feed pipe connected at one end to said reservoir and pitched upwardly toward and connected to said inlet, a return pipe connected at one end to the reservoir and pitched upwardly therefrom to a peak level point above said outlet, a connector pipe connected to said outlet and pitched upwardly therefrom toward and connected to said peak level point of the return pipe, and pump means in said feed line for pumping liquid from the reservoir through the feed line, inlet, piping, outlet, connector pipe, and return pipe. 
     
     
       2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a vent is inserted in the return pipe adjacent to said reservoir. 
     
     
       3. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said return pipe is sized to increase the velocity of liquid flowing through the return pipe sufficiently to entrain within the liquid air which may collect at said peak level point. 
     
     
       4. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a plurality of solar collectors are connected at their respective inlets to said feed pipe and at their respective outlets to said connector pipe. 
     
     
       5. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said solar collectors are disposed above said reservoir, each collector having a respective inlet and outlet, and said connector pipe is connected to all of said outlets, and a second connector pipe is connected to all of said inlets and is inclined downwardly therefrom and is connected at its lower end to said feed pipe. 
     
     
       6. A solar energy system for heating a liquid comprising at least one inclined solar collector having conduit means therein including an inlet as its lower end, an outlet at its upper end, and a grid of conduits connected at its lower end to said inlet and extending continuously upwardly therefrom toward and connected to said outlet, a liquid storage tank at a level below said collector, a piping circuit connected at one end to the storage tank and extending continuously upwardly therefrom to and connected with said conduit means, said piping circuit including a feed pipe connecting said tank with said inlet and a return pipe connecting said tank with said outlet, said return pipe having a discrete portion thereof located at the peak level of the system, with all portions of the system being pitched downwardly from said discrete portion, and pump means connected with said feed line for forcing liquid through the system. 
     
     
       7. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein a vent is inserted in the return pipe adjacent to said storage tank. 
     
     
       8. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein at least a portion of said return pipe is sized to increase the velocity of liquid flowing through the return pipe sufficiently to entrain within the liquid air which may collect at said peak level point. 
     
     
       9. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein a plurality of said solar collectors are disposed above said reservoir, each collector having a respective inlet and outlet, and said connector pipe is connected to all of said outlets, and a second connector pipe is connected to all of said inlets and is inclined downwardly therefrom and is connected at its lower end to said feed pipe. 
     
     
       10. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein a plurality of solar collectors are connected at their respective inlets to said feed pipe and at their respective outlets to said connector pipe.